Combination flush valve and seat cleaning means



June 28, 1955 R. E. NORTON COMBINATION FLUSH VALVE AND SEAT CLEANINGMEANS Filed March 19, 1953 Arroxusr.

A m m m ROBERT E. NORTON United States Patent COMBINATI GNFLUSH VALVEAND SEAT CLEANING MEANS Robert E. Norton, Miami, Fla.

Application March 19, 1953, Serial No. 343,309

2 Claims. (Cl. 51-186) This invention relates to an improvement intoilet flush valves and has particular reference to novel meansassociated with the flush valve for conveniently and economicallydressing the flush valve seat to remove accumulated chemical depositsthat interfere with the proper and efiective seating of the valve.

The invention has for its object to provide an abrasive surfaceassociated with the conventional flush tank ball whereby the ball mayserve in the capacity of a cleansing tool for the flush valve seat wheninverted and engaged with the seat in an oscillatory manner.

Further objects of the invention reside in the novel manners ofassociating the abrasive surface with the tank ball, either as anintegral assembly or, as a preformed and preshaped band to bepermanently connected with the ball or supplied with the ball to be usedin conjunction therewith when the seat is to be cleaned.

Other novel features of the invention, construction and operationthereof, will be more clearly apparent during the course of thefollowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,wherein has been illustrated practical and effective forms of the deviceand wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote likeparts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a flush tank check ball embodying theinvention and shown in normal use upon the conventional flush coupling,

Figure 2 is a similar view, but with the check ball inverted to seatcleansing position,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the improved check ball,

Figure 4 is a central vertical section on an enlarge scale, takensubstantially on line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device whereinthe abrasive unit is preformed and cemented to the ball,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure of Figure 5, but with theabrasive unit permanently cemented to the ball and,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an abrasive unit for use with thecheck ball in cleansing the valve seat.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and2, the numeral 5 designates the bottom wall of the usual and well knownvitreous toilet flush tank, apertured to receive the conventional flushcoupling, indicated as a whole by the numeral 6. The flush coupling 6includes the usual and well known bevelled check valve seat 7. Thestructure so far described is old and well known in the art and forms nopart of the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, a flush tank check ball isindicated as a whole by the numeral 8. The ball is formed in the usualmanner of flexible material, such as rubber and is formed hollow, asshown in Figure 4 with the usual air opening 9. The lower or valveforming part of the ball, indicated at 10, is preferably formedsemispherical, although it will be apparent that it can be successfullyformed conical. While a novel form of ball g 2,711,618 Patented June 28,1955 has been illustrated, it should be here understood thattheinvention is applicable to other and well known forms of ball, the ballhere illustrated being shaped for convenience in disclosing theinvention. The upper portion 11 of the ball is preferably formedfrusto-conical, with the angle of the side wall 12 being formedsubstantially on the recognized angle of the bevelled valve seat 7. Theupper end of the body 11 has a flat top that is provided centrallythereof with an embedded threaded stud 13 of usual form, that hasthreaded connection with the usual and Well known trip rod 14, employedto raise the check ball 8 from the seat 7. Preferably circumferentiallymolded into the side wall 12, is a band of abrasive material 15 which,at its greatest diameter, is greater than the greatest diameter of thevalve seat 7, while the smallest diameter of the band 15 is less thanthe smallest diameter of the valve seat 7. While it is desirable thatthe abrasive band15 shall be molded into the rubber of the ball, asshown, it will be apparent that the ball may be given an application ofwaterproof cement and the abrasive material applied thereto.

In the use of this form of the invention, when the valve seat 7 hasbecome corroded or encrusted with chemical deposits to a degree whichprevents the proper seating of the ball against leakagemhe operatorfirst shuts off the water, then removes the trip rod 14 in the usualmanner. He then reaches into the tank, lifts the ball 8 and inverts itto the position shown in Figure 2. In this inverted position, theabrasive band is fully engaging the area of the seat 7; The operatorthen oscillates the ball, while at the same time exerting a slightdownward pressure thereon. A few such oscillatory strokes will quicklyclean the seat of the deposits and impart a smooth polished surfacethereo. Obviously, the number of strokes necessary, will depend entirelyupon the condition of the seat. After the seat has been cleaned, theball is again inverted to its original check position of Figure l andthe trip rod reengaged. The entire operation requires but a very fewminutes and avoids the use of seat grinding tools in an area that is, atbest, diflicult to work in.

In the form of the device illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the same ball8 is employed, having the semi-spherical body 10, upper portion 11 andangular side wall 12. In this form of the invention, a preformed band ofmaterial 16 has its entire outer surface coated with abrasive material17. The band 16 has an overall area substantially that of the band 15.The material forming the band 16 and a suitable adhesive to retain theabrasive material thereon, will obviously be formed of waterproofmaterial. The band 16 is cemented or otherwise attached to the wall area12 in the position illustrated in Figure 6. While there are numerousmaterials of which the band 16 may be formed, one practical manner wouldbe for the band 16 to be formed of a material that might be vulcanizedto the surface 12 against displacement. However, the invention is notlimited to a precise method of application. The operation of the deviceas illustrated in Figure 6 is identical to that described in connectionwith the form of the device in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 7 illustrates an adapter for use with the conventional checkballs presently in use or with the form of the check ball illustrated inthis application. The adapter, designated as a whole by the referencenumeral 13, embodies a frusto-conical shell 19, open at both ends andformed of relatively stiff paper or cardboard and having its entireouter surface coated with an abrasive material 20. The angularity of thedevice 18 is substantially that of the well known conventional checkvalve seats now in use, although the device in use will readily conformto other valve seats when adequate pressure is exerted thereon. Thedevice of Figure 7 is adapted to be sold as a kit with the check ballfor use at such times as the valve seat is to be cleaned. When thedevice 18 is to be used, the operator removes the trip rod 14 as before,then removes the ball 8 and inserts the'ball into the largest open endof the shell 19. Then, by grasping both the ball and the shell, thedevice is engaged with the valve seat 7, with the smaller end projectingdownwardly into the coupling. An oscillatory movement of the assembledball and shell will quickly cleanse the seat, the ball .exerting an evenoutward pressure upon the shell 19 to cause it to evenly engage theseat. The device 18 will last for a very considerable time and theinfrequency of its use will extend its life to substantially that of theball itself. After cleaning the seat, the reassembly is made as before.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very simple and highlyeffective means has been provided to facilitate the cleaning of theconventional toilet flush valve seats. The device is most economical tomanufacture and results in a very considerable saving in Water costs andgreatly prolongs the life of the check ball. The invention readilyadapts itself to various forms of check balls at a minimum cost.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A toilet flush valve to engage with a valve seat, said flush valvebeing formed of rubber which is flexible and resilient, the upperportion of the flush valve being thicker and stiffer than the lowerportion, the lower portion seating against the inner face of the valveseat when in use, means carried by the upper thicker portion fordetachable engagement with a trip rod, and an annular strip of abrasivematerial secured to the circumference of the upper thicker portion ofthe flush valve and surrounding said circumference, said strip having asubstantial width and terminating short of the lower flexible portionwhich engages the inner face of said seat, the arrangement being suchthat the flexible valve may be separated from the trip rod and invertedand the annular abrasive strip brought into engagement with the innerface of the valve seat to clean or grind the same, the flexibility ofthe upper thicker portion permitting the abrasive strip to readilyconform to the shape of the inner face of the valve seat and beingsufficiently stifl so that a desired amount of pressure may be appliedto the face, the lower more flexible portion of said valve permitting ofthe convenient engagement of the upper end of the upper thicker portionfor applying suitable pressure to the then inverted upper thickerportion.

2. A .device for cleaning .or grinding the valve seat of a toilet flushtank, said device comprising a generally spherical hollow member formedof rubber which is flexible and resilient, one end portion of the memberbeing thicker and stiffer than the other end portion, the thicker andstiffer end portion having means for detachable connection with a rod,and an annular strip of abrasive material secured to the thicker andstiffer end portion and surrounding the circumference of the same, saidstrip having a substantial width and terminating short of the moreflexible end portion, the arrangem being such that the thicker endportion may be separated from the rod and the annular abrasive stripbrought into engagement with the inner face of the valve seat to grindor clean the same, the flexibility of the thicker and stifler endportion permitting the abrasive strip to readily conform to the shape ofthe inner face of the valve seat and being sufficiently stiff so that adesired amount of pressure may be applied to said face, the moreflexible end portion of said member'permitting of the convenientapplication of the fingers to the end of the thicker and stiffer endportion for applying pressure thereto, the more flexible end portionbeing adapted for seating upon said valve seat when the member is usedas a valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS-

